Series 3 > Register of the consultations of the ministers of Edinburgh and some other brethren of the ministry > Volume 1

FIRST REGISTER : LETTER TO MR. J. SHARP 221
and other offenders in an ecclesiastiek way, for reclaiming
them from the error of their judgment or practice. The
protesters are mainly to be feared who have already pro¬
fessed, as you know in their conference with us, that they
will not submitt to the established judicatures, and how
can they be judged to submitt who professe that they
will not submitt ? Yea, profane persons may refuse to
submitt, and shelter themselves under that clause, and
all contraversies between Presbyteries and any offender
shall be drawen away from them, and no Kirk judicature
have power to determine in them to any effect. We do
not meddle, you know, with these that have never been
of our Kirk, and you are not ignorant with that tendernesse
we walk in proceeding against these who fall off from us,
whether in doctrine, worship, discipline or government,
that if possible they may be gained by lenity. And as
hitherto we have not gone beyond our line, so it is our
pourpose for hereafter not to stretch ourselves beyond it.
We judge it therefore fairest and safest that nothing should
be given in by you but the simple desire as it is above
mentioned. We wish that nothing be given in before
our advice which, you crave, be returned unto you. But
if you have offered any draught with that clause, we desire
it may be helped while you are there, for we look upon
that clause as the destruction of the established govern¬
ment of this Kirk, unto which we can never be consenting.
Mr Simsone is now come up with his packet of lies, and we
hear is commissionat to supplicate that these of their
faction may have equall share in the plantation of all the
Kirks that may happen to be vacant, whereas the respec¬
tive Kirk judicatures should exercise their power therein
according to the established order of this Kirk. We do
therefore judge it expedient, though you be dispatched
that you attend his motions there, till we be advertised,
for albeit you cannot meet with him, being a deposed
minister, yet you may informe my Lord Broghill, as you
understand of his calumnies or misrepresentations. We
recommend you to the Lord’s grace, praying that He
may be pleased to give you wisdome, and blesse you with